A specialist Asian supermarket could attract more customers to a West Lothian town centre.
The council-owned building has been emptying for several years as Property Services staff have sought to find a tenant.
The council is responsible for holding costs on the empty building which is one of the few storefronts it owns in the town. These costs include the payment of non-domestic rates of over £8,500.
Earlier proposals by Specsavers to open a branch at the store at 99 East Main Street in Broxburn fell through a meeting of the Council Executive.
Property Services Manager Scottish Hughes recommended the store be leased to SN Karim Ltd who plan to operate and Asian and international grocery supermarket from the premises.
99 East Main Street is a council-owned commercial property located in Broxburn’s town centre at the junction of East Main Street and Church Street. The property is 263m² of open plan retail / office accommodation.
The rental income for the first year is £25,000 and there shall be a mutual option to break the lease at the end of years 5, 10 and 15.
Local councillor Janet Campbell, the SNP group leader, asked how long the store had been vacant. Mr Hughes said it had been empty for at least three years.
Asked by Councillor Campbell if the proposal would lead to over provision given surrounding grocery stores including the Co-op. Mr Hughes said his understanding was that the “very specialist” nature of the products sold in the store would attract people from outside the town.
Councillor Campbell welcomed the proposal saying: “ I think it will be a bonus if it will bring many more people to the town for shopping.”
By Stuart Sommerville, Local Democracy Reporter
